Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Look To Upset No. 20 Bears Again
February 16, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Tubby Smith looks to lead the Red Raiders past Baylor for the second straight year in Lubbock.
February 16, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - It was just after 10 p.m. on Jan. 15 last year and there were suddenly thousands of fans on the court. Some would say it was when the Tubby Smith Era began, as the Red Raiders had just upset No. 12 Baylor, 82-72, at United Supermarkets Arena.
The Bears return to the United Supermarkets Arena as the No. 20 team in America looking to snap a two-game losing streak when Baylor faces Texas Tech at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
That win for Smith was a benchmark for a program that was looking for the first step on an upswing. It snapped a 34-game losing streak to ranked opponents. Smith has gone on to topple three more ranked opponents since then and has equaled the number of ranked wins for Texas Tech in two years that it had since 2008 when hall of fame coach Bob Knight retired.
"Baylor is a very talented team that has the ability to score from several positions," said Smith. "They are a veteran team that has the ability to play under control and looks to score in transition."
Texas Tech has held nine of 13 Big 12 opponents under their scoring average this season. They have also held five teams under 65 points in league play. Baylor is averaging 69.8 points per game this season. In league road games, Baylor is averaging just 65.7 points per game.
Conversely, Texas Tech has been somewhat dominate at home, averaging 67.7 points per game, while giving up 58.9 points. The Red Raiders are 12-4 at home this season, marking the most home wins since 2009-10. A win over Baylor would mark just the ninth time that Texas Tech has won 13 home games in a season.
"We have played better at home this season and that has a lot to do with who we are," added Smith. "We are such a young team with five freshmen. We only have five upperclassmen on our roster. I can see us getting better each day."
In the Red Raiders' last two wins, it has been guard play that has led the way. Devaugntah Williams has netted 22 points in the wins over Kansas State and then-No. 9 Iowa State. This will be especially true with the Bears' zone defense. Williams is averaging 13.1 points per game at home this season.
"Our guards will have to attack the zone," said Smith. "I saw some bright spots for us against Texas. Now we need to build off of that. We have to get Norense (Odiase) more touches. He has a high basketball IQ and it was apparent against the Longhorns."
Odiase had six points, six rebounds and four assists against Texas' zone defense.
Another guard that has to step up for the Red Raiders to have success is Robert Turner, who has averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game over the last three home games.
Freshman Zach Smith is averaging 30.5 minutes per game for Texas Tech. He is just the second freshman since 2007 to lead the team in minutes played. Smith is one block away from tying the freshman school record for blocks in a game with 37. Former Red Raider Will Flemons had 37 blocks in 25 games during the 1989-90 season. Smith has 36 through 25 games.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
As Charles Dickens said in a tale of two cities, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." This quote conveys the Red Raiders at home and on the road this season. Texas Tech is 12-4 in Lubbock and 0-10 outside the Hub City. The Red Raiders average 67.7 points per game at home, while holding opponents to 58.9 points. On the road, Texas Tech averages just 49.8 points per game ... Last season, Texas Tech upset No. 12/13 Baylor in the United Supermarkets Arena, 82-72.
FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER
?Texas Tech has used eight different starting lineups this season ... at one point, Texas Tech had started the youngest starting lineup in the country with four freshmen and a sophomore ... in its last two wins, Texas Tech has used the lineup of Randy Onwuasor (G), Robert Turner (G), Devaugntah Williams (SF), Zach Smith (PF), Isaiah Manderson (C).
?Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith is in search of his 538th career win. The hall of fame coach is tied with Harry Miller, who won 537 games from 1953-88, for 63rd all-time in NCAA Division I and ranks 18th among active head coaches.
?Texas Tech leads the all-time series with Baylor, 76-52, but the Bears lead the series since the start of the Big 12, 19-18. Texas Tech is 43-17 against Baylor in Lubbock. The Red Raiders have more home wins against Baylor than any other school.
?Texas Tech is running the gauntlet, as 10 of its last 12 games are against Top 25 teams or teams receiving votes in the polls. Tuesday's game is Game 8 in the 12-game run to close out the Big 12. Starting with Iowa State, seven of the last eight games for the Red Raiders are against teams ranked in the Top 35 of the RPI.
?Texas Tech has held 17 opponents under 70 points this season. It is the best eff ort since the start of the 1951-52 season (21 of 24). Texas Tech has also held five of 10 road/away opponents under 70 points.
